With April 23 vote looming, CKSD faces prospect of rare second school levy failure

It's been nearly 30 years since Central Kitsap School District went without voter-approved levy funding to supplement what the state funds for education.

The rare situation could be a reality once again if a three-year educational enrichment programs and operations levy fails to receive simple-majority support during the April 23 special election. It's the only measure on the ballot and the result of Central Kitsap's initial three-year levy proposal in February failing at 49.6%. In the same election, Bainbridge Island and Bremerton saw EP&O levies pass by wide margins, as well as a bond in Bremerton.

Districts can only run levy measures twice per calendar year, meaning April's election is a chance for Central Kitsap voters to either reverse February's outcome, or double down, denying funding that accounts for 10% of Central Kitsap's operating budget.

"It's really hurtful and hard for our staff and our community to take a look at the full impact at the loss of a levy," Central Kitsap School District Superintendent Erin Prince said during a levy education forum March 21 at Olympic High School.

Central Kitsap is Kitsap County's largest school district with over 11,000 students.

If April's levy is approved, Central Kitsap's levy collection amounts would be an estimated $21 million for 2025, $22 million for 2026 and $23 million for 2027. The estimated levy rate for property owners would be $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value each year. A "no" vote would result in the loss of close to $30 million in funding in 2025. That's because in addition to the $21 million in levy dollars that would not be collected, the district would also not receive $8 million in federally-apportioned Heavy Impact Aid, which is used for capital projects, or $800,000 in state-apportioned Local Effort Assistance. Both are contingent on a local levy being in place.

Survey asks community to identify funding priorities

For those new to school funding sources, local levy money is raised through property tax collection and funds school enrichment programs and positions not covered by the state or federal government. This includes arts, athletics and clubs, special education support, counseling, transportation, food services, security, technology and other student services.

Every year, school districts across the state run levy measures aimed at replacing expiring ones (levies last between two and four years). Since annual school budgets are finalized in the summer, districts typically run levies in February and, if needed, April.

In light of February's failure, Prince said there was an important question Central Kitsap officials asked staff and community members: "What can we learn from this?"

The message received, Prince said, is that the community wanted to know what exactly the district stood to lose should the levy fail again in April? Specifically, what might be on the chopping block for the 2024-25 school year?

"Obviously we don't want to go here," Prince said. "We have to be prepared either way."

Part of that preparation came in the form of a March survey asking students, parents and staff to identify priorities within four areas supported by levy funding: student support, safety, special education and sports/activities. (The survey noted that all required special education services would continue to be supported, regardless of April's levy outcome).

Here are the items listed in the survey, along with the current funding figures earmarked for those items:

Administration ($950,000): Six administrators above the state funding model. This includes both building and district office administrators. This impacts grades K-12.

Counseling and health services ($900,000): Supports student physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. Eighteen (18) additional staff (1.2 counselors, 1 nurse, and 15.8 support staff) above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Curriculum resource center ($200,000): Delivers and coordinates curriculum materials, resources, and Chromebooks. Provides K-8 science resources and two support staff. This impacts grades K-12.

Elementary staffing ($2,885,000): Additional four teachers and 12 student support specialists above the state funding model. Additional compensation for larger than bargained class size. This impacts grades K-5.

In-school suspension ($320,000): Six staff to monitor in-school suspension. This impacts grades 6-12.

Kindergarten support ($1,150,000): Paraeducator support in kindergarten classrooms (20 paraeducators).

Library ($880,000): Additional 5.5 librarians to support library above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Music ($141,000): Instrument repair and replacement cycle and curriculum and supplies. This impacts grades K-12.

Professional development ($1,031,000): Provides additional time for staff training and collaboration. This includes one additional day of training for teachers above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Secondary intervention support ($729,000): Provide support for students struggling in reading and writing. Planning, training, and delivery of interventions in grades 6-12 (four teachers and two paraeducators above the state funding model). This impacts grades 6-12.

Secondary staffing ($1,765,000): Additional seven teachers and three high school deans of students above the state funding model. Additional compensation for larger-than-bargained class size. This impacts grades 6-12.

Strategic plan implementation ($1,000,000): Advance work identified in the 2023-26 strategic plan. This impacts grades K-12.

Substitutes ($1,250,000): Substitute costs for staff absences above state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Teacher supplemental days ($750,000): This provides additional workdays above the state funding model for counselors, librarians, Career and Technical Educator teachers, and Barker Creek Community School teachers. This impacts grades K-12.

Technology ($2,900,000): Chromebooks for all students and staff, classroom technology, lifecycle replacement, infrastructure, digital licensing and management platforms, and eight technicians above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Transitional kindergarten ($500,000): Provides an extra 20 weeks of kindergarten readiness skills. Staff for half a year (5.5 teachers and 5 paraeducators). This impacts grade pre-K.

Transportation ($1,300,000): Cost to provide student transportation, above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Custodial ($1,400,000): Provide clean, healthy, and safe learning environment for students, staff, and community. Fourteen staff above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Maintenance/grounds ($1,600,000): Maintaining buildings, fields, grounds and athletic facilities and an additional 10 staff above the state funding model. This impacts grades K-12.

Security ($1,000,000): Three school resource officers through the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, 15 security staff, security cameras, equipment, and training. This impacts grades K-12.

Athletics/activities outside of school day ($4,800,000): Provides 187 coach/advisor stipends, three building athletic directors, one administrator, supplies, equipment, training, and travel for before and after-school activities. This impacts grades K-12.

Community schools ($400,000): Supports community access to schools and athletic facilities, including volunteer services and overseeing scheduling of school facilities for community users. This impacts grades K-12 and the community at-large.

District pool ($300,000): Staffing and supply costs associated with operation and community use of the district pool. This impacts grades K-12 and the community at-large.

Performing arts center ($250,000): Staffing and operational expenses to support school-based and community-based productions and field trips (including the all-district summer musical). It also supports Entertainment Production classes for students to develop skills in teamwork and leadership through stagecraft and technical production. This impacts grades 1-12 and the community at-large.

CKSD spokesperson David Beil said school officials would begin analyzing results once the survey closed April 3.

Doubly levy failures not common across state

How often do school levies fail to receive voter support?

Central Kitsap's last double levy failure occurred in 1994. Four other school districts experienced double failures that year: Bremerton, North Kitsap, North Mason and South Kitsap.

Double levy failures have become less common since 2007, when state voters moved the passage threshold from a 60% supermajority, which is still needed for school bond measures, to a 50% simple majority. According to a recent Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction report, it was anticipated that 96% of the levies run by school districts in February would pass. In 2023, only two in-state school districts experienced a double levy failure.

It's not out of the ordinary to see levy failures during one election lead to eventual successes the next. That happened with Central Kitsap in 2022 when a two-year levy measure failed by 430 votes in February, then passed two months later by 168 votes.

While Prince is optimistic of Central Kitsap experiencing a similar reversal in April, a fair question remains: why is the district suddenly struggling to pass these levies?

After Central Kitsap's February 2022 levy failure, opponents of the measure pointed out dissatisfaction with CKSD policies, a lack of openness and transparency, and a general dismissiveness of community concerns as reasons that the measure didn't receive more support.

Matthew Adams, who helped craft the "against" argument in the local voter's guide for the February vote, noted in a statement provided to the Kitsap Sun that some of those concerns remain and might explain why two of the district's past three levy attempts haven't been successful.

"The community's calls for accountability, transparency, and measures of effectiveness have been largely unmet, leaving us questioning the tangible benefits our hefty investments in education yield," Adams wrote. "While the community supports a CKSD levy, the lack of clear evidence linking funding to educational outcomes is troubling. We urge the school board to reconsider its priorities to ensure maximum student benefit. This isn't merely about expenditure; it's about demonstrating how each dollar enhances student education."

Adams called the recent survey put out by the district a "step in the right direction" in terms of seeking community input, but questioned why it didn't materialize earlier, stating "such initiatives should have preceded February's discussions. Failure to engage with the community earlier reflects poor judgment and a lack of learning from past mistakes. As taxpayers face the burden of a second vote, we demand tangible progress, not just rhetoric."

Adams continued: "Perhaps a failed levy, though painful, may instill the humility needed for genuine collaboration between the community and CKSD. Tough decisions lie ahead, but by prioritizing essentials and fostering gratitude and creativity, we can navigate these challenges together. Let us reevaluate where CKSD's funding can make the greatest impact for our students while alleviating the financial strain on families and property owners."

Reductions coming regardless of levy outcome

Regardless of April's levy outcome, Central Kitsap has already begun shaving $7 million off its budget for 2024-25. The reduction, in part, stems from enrollment declines that Central Kitsap and other local school districts have been experiencing since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020.

"We are prioritizing reductions at the district level to shield our schools from direct impacts as much as possible," Prince wrote in a release sent to staff and community members in late February. "We are working to achieve these reductions without resorting to a Reduction-In-Force (notices must be sent no later than May 15) or layoffs. However, this work could result in staff re-assignments."

Prince's release noted that Central Kitsap would be enacting a hiring freeze, instituting a review policy for all purchases made by schools and departments, and reducing professional learning and activities requiring travel. Additional cost-saving measures ahead of the 2024-25 school year would be reducing 15 positions at Central Kitsap's district office, transferring those staff to open positions in schools; closing the district's former administration building, Jenne-Wright, and relocating staff; modifying clerical/custodial staffing structures; and stopping/pausing some programs/initiatives.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Second Central Kitsap School District school levy on April ballot